Israel continues to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite Hamas’ efforts
August 12, 2014 | Gabrielle Debinski
In recent weeks, the media has focused overwhelmingly on the ‘humanitarian crisis’ developing in Gaza. Interestingly, neither the media nor the UN or other ‘human rights’ groups – quick to condemn Israel for imposing a partial ‘blockade’ on the Gaza Strip – have made any mention of the thousands of trucks of humanitarian aid that have continued to pour in from Israel. They continued coming even in the face of incessant Hamas rocket fire hitting Israeli towns and cities, and they continued coming even as Hamas attacked the border crossing itself.
Victorian State Liberal MPs speak in support of Israel
August 11, 2014
Several Victorian Liberal MPs rose in State Parliament last week to voice their support for Israel during the Gaza conflict and express concern over rising anti-Semitism. This post contains their statements in full.
Why must my friend be afraid to be Jewish?
August 8, 2014 | Glen Falkenstein
Tensions overseas and a rise in anti-Israel rhetoric has given an excuse/pretext to antisemites to act on their beliefs and carry out intimidation towards Jews both in Australia and overseas, writes Glen Falkenstein.
Gaza’s border in a lasting ceasefire deal/ Hamas and the Media
August 8, 2014
The three day ceasefire that has been in effect in Gaza since Tuesday morning ended a few hours ago, and sadly, Hamas has chosen to resume rocket fire, firing 11 rockets in the first hour. This seems to pretty much guarantee the recent Gaza war will resume and Gazans are reportedly fleeing the border area, though as of this writing, Israel had not yet started to respond. Before the ceasefire’s expiration, Hamas refused calls to extend it despite an Israeli agreement to do so. Already, a few hours before the ceasefire ended, two rockets struck Israel from Gaza.
This Update focuses on what a long-term ceasefire deal might look like, and more specifically on what arrangements for Gaza’s borders might make possible Gaza’s demilitarisation, a key demand of Israel, backed by much of the international community, including many Arab states (Sharyn Mittelman had a great deal on the demilitarisation issue in a blog yesterday.)
The only long-term solution: demilitarise Gaza
August 7, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman
Attention is now focused on how a long-term solution can be reached to prevent a repeat of this Israel-Gaza conflict as well as the ones that had been played out before in 2012 and 2009. Israel believes that the answer is the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip through diplomatic means in exchange for significant investment in reconstruction and the easing of border restrictions. The demilitarisation of Gaza is also supported by the EU, US, Canada and many Arab states.
Madly Yours – The truth about the media’s favourite Gaza doctor
August 6, 2014 | Robert Ellenhorn
During the coverage of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, many officials, experts, and other personalities have been called on to offer reports, insights and analysis to the public. Unfortunately and puzzlingly, one such voice making its way into the media has been that of Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert. So just who is Dr. Gilbert?
Crucial context and facts missing in media’s reporting on shelling of UN schools in Gaza
August 6, 2014 | Gabrielle Debinski
“US ‘appalled’ by ‘disgraceful’ Israeli shelling of UN school,” “UN Chief calls attack ‘moral outrage’ and ‘criminal act’” as well as “Another UN school hit in Israeli bombing in Gaza” are just some of the hyperbolic headlines that have been attached to reports on Israel’s ‘supposed’ shelling of a UN school in Rafah, southern Gaza, on August 3.
The international media has been abuzz with this story of an apparent Israeli shelling of the UN school, which was reportedly being used to shelter 3,000 displaced Palestinians in Gaza.
The truth about the population density of Gaza and Hamas tactics
August 6, 2014 | Robert Ellenhorn
The piece by former ABC correspondent Peter George, published in three Fairfax papers today, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Canberra Times, is replete with misinformation, lack of knowledge, and dubious claims. This is not the place to confront all of them in detail, but one telling example is his repetition of an increasingly common but easily disproven myth – that Gaza is so densely populated, Hamas has no choice but to locate its military infrastructure and launch missiles from built up areas.
Gaza ceasefires, a history
August 5, 2014 | Ahron Shapiro
Israel has just announced its acceptance of another 72-hour ceasefire to begin this morning, Israel time. Following yesterday’s seven-hour humanitarian ceasefire announced by the IDF there have now been seven ceasefires the IDF has accepted in the current conflict. On the Hamas side, some of the ceasefires were accepted, some were rejected, but regardless, none have been respected by Hamas, which has continued to bombard Israel and carry out attacks during times the IDF has been holding its fire.
Lets take a look at some of those ceasefires, and their outcomes.
